News Channel Nebraska
U.S. Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska’s 1st District was among those at the Washington Hilton Saturday night when a gunman fired shots, causing panic and shutting down the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Flood recounted his experience during a press call Sunday afternoon. He said he his table was 30 feet from the stage. He initially thought he heard plates breaking but soon realized it was gunshots.
“I saw all the Secret Service agents rushing the vice president, the president, the first lady,” Flood said. “The president appeared to have gone on the ground… then all of a sudden you saw these Secret Service agents, I assume, that were in full fatigues with really large assault rifles.”
Flood said the night was supposed to be a celebration of the First Amendment. He said he was frustrated that it was disrupted and pledged not to let it prevent members of government and the press from gathering.
“Here everybody is doing the right thing,” Flood said. “Republicans, Democrats, members of the media celebrating the First Amendment, what makes American strong and great, an example for the rest of the world, and your president is on the ground, your Vice President has been shuttled out, all of these senior leaders of our government are being whisked away. I just looked around and I thought, ‘this is terrible.’”
Flood said he hopes the event is rescheduled. Nebraska U.S. Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska also attended the dinner.
